What Murdoch will put behind the Wapping paywalls - Clarkson and sport

There are, naturally enough, all sorts of rumours about Rupert Murdoch's exact plans for erecting paywalls on his Wapping newspaper websites.

One that has the ring of truth comes from freelance sports writer Norman Giller who implies that he has the inside track on the "small bands of sworn-to-secrecy internet-savvy News International journalists and webmasters preparing for the paid-for launch." He writes:

"As I understand it, general news will still be free but exceptional columnists such as Jeremy Clarkson, Steven Howard and the big-name celebrity 'writers' like Terry Venables, Harry Redknapp and Ian Wright will only be available in the paid-for package...

"Sports will be a key seller, particularly with The Sun service. Subscribers will be offered a free direct-to-your-mobile results service, there will be videos of goals and cut-price offers from all the sports goods and clothing manufacturers.

"This, wrapped up with Page 3 girls at their most alluring, bingo and puzzle games offering huge cash prizes plus a promotional link with Sky will, they hope, make it an offer too good to refuse."

Giller also writes that a television advertising blitz is planned to introduce the service, "and there will be special rewards for readers who stay faithful to the newspapers and take out a subscription."